Plans to complete town masterplan set to be decided

Plans for 1,600 new homes to complete the ‘masterplan’ of a Northumberland town will go before planners next week.

In April the News Post Leader revealed how planning consultancy Barton Willmore had submitted a planning application on behalf of Persimmon Homes and Bellway Homes to build the properties in Cramlington.

The ambitious plans afor 1,600 homes, as well as a new local centre comprising of retail space, a pub, care home/sheltered accommodation for the elderly, a community building, medical/health care centre and additional retail and commercial space, will go before planners at a Strategic Planning Committee meeting on Tuesday.

The masterplan proposals will see the culmination of a 30 year process, realising the development of Cramlington New Town’s South West sector.

A report presented to the council said the plans “in combination with the development sites to the north, would largely complete

the town of Cramlington.”

Cramlington coun Wayne Daley said: “This land has been the subject of planning approval in the past which, for a variety of reasons, has stalled.

“Cramlington is being targeted for major house building and we have to make sure that if these latest plans are approved that they come with the right infrastructure to support the thousands of new residents coming to the town.

“We need assurances on parking, school places and the effect of thousands of new cars on our road network.

“We also need commitment from the builders and the council that they will build low cost starter homes for young people to get on the housing ladder and bungalows for older people to downsize into.

“House builders and the council have a unique opportunity to ensure that if this is agreed, money is directed to minimise the impact on existing residents and that Cramlington preserves its green open spaces and doesn’t just become a glorified building site”

Cramlington Town Council has offered its support to the development, but urged that high quality design criteria are applied throughout; proposed community facilities are synchronised with housing developments; noise and other nuisance is minimised on residents during development; a satisfactory mix of house types is provided, and at least 25 per cent of the development is affordable housing and all new access arrangements are in place prior to the commencement of the development.

The report which will go before planners is expected to be granted subject to a series of conditions.